KB-50 Arrives At Dover AFB For Restoration — Report With Photos

You’re correct, most of America’s “grass roots” non-flying museums don’t run aircraft. Likewise North America doesn’t feature fast taxi runs which seem to be popular in the UK (for types the CAA won’t let fly).
Much of that has to do with the simple fact that the government doesn’t let “live” modern warbirds go into private hands. Hence, you won’t see a B-52 do fast taxi runs the way Vulcans and Victors are able to do in the UK.

And with so many B-17s (to give one example) flying, there is no urgent need for groups to spend their funds to get their static examples running as we see with Just Jane.

When you get into well funded “big name” group’s…CAF, Collings, Planes of Fame, the “Doc” B-29 group, Weeks, Paul Allen’s group, the lesser known groups that maintain and fly pre-war types (Old Rhinebeck, the Arango collection plus individual owners with flying OX-5s, Gnomes, Le Rhones, Hissos) I dare say North America could give the UK a run for its money.

Like many other areas, the nation’s warbird communities are as different as they are similar.

I didn’t necessarily mean there. I meant anywhere!

It’s not strange. Why would a museum spend tens of thousands to repair, service or overhaul engines it does not own? The aircraft is on loan from the NMUSAF. Also, the museum is on a military base so there are undoubtedly safety/insurance and other considerations.

Do private UK museums run engines in aircraft that are on loan?

I’ve never seen any IWM aircraft engines run on my trips to Duxford. Privately owned aircraft yes, but not “stuffed” museum examples.

It’s strange how the Americans never get them running. It’s either flying or dead!

Good news…McDill AFB in Florida is closing its air park and they saw the need for the rare type to get out of the corrosive climate.
The Dover museum is getting quite the collection, especially for anyone interested in airlift history.

Excellent. Thanks for the link.

Rob